Arraignment date for former Elizabethtown doctor and girlfriend rescheduled

An arraignment hearing for a former Elizabethtown doctor and his girlfriend has been moved to June.

The arraignment hearing for Dr. Jong Whan Kim and his former girlfriend Tammy Thompson was originally scheduled to take place on March 12, has been rescheduled to June 4, 2019 in New Bern.

Dr. Kim and Thompson are alleged to have operated a pill mill out of their Tabor City clinic and their residences in Tabor City and Bladenboro.

Dr. Kim appeared before US Magistrate Judge Robert Jones Jr. in January and was allowed to be released from the custody of US Marshals. Dr. Kim was ordered to remain in the custody of his sister, Michelle Kim of Wisconsin, pending his next court date.

Assistant US Attorney Timothy Servo argued against the release of Dr. Kim.

Dr. Kim, who is represented by Attorneys James Polk and Raymond C. Tarlton of the law firm Tarlton Polk, PLLC of Raleigh, is ordered not to prescribe any medication and to surrender his medical license. He must report to a US Probation Office periodically, cooperate with DNA collection, he must advise the court in writing before he can make any changes in his residence or telephone number, surrender his passport. Dr. Kim is also ordered to have no contact with his co-defendant and former girlfriend, Tammy Lynn Thompson.

US Magistrate Judge Jones ordered Dr. Kim to remain on house arrest until his next court appearance.